Course Syllabus

O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

V181: US Policy & Administration

Fall 2026 (Last Updated Aug 16, 2026)

Mondays and Wednesdays 8:00-9:15 AM (PY 101)

Instructor: Juwon Chung

Class Meeting: Mon & Wed, 8:00 AM–9:15 AM, PY 101 (Psychology Building)

Office Hours: 

• Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 AM – Noon  
• Location: SPEA-412 or Zoom
• How to Sign up: 
• If you would like to schedule a meeting, email me with the subject [V181 Regular Office Hour]
• In-person walk-ins are welcome during the designated office hours. However, pre-scheduled appointments will be given priority.
• If these times do not work for you, email me with the subject [V181 Alternative Office Hour]

Communication Methods:

• Preferred Contact Method: Email
• Typical Response Time: 2 business days
• Official announcements and/or schedule changes will be communicated through Canvas. Please check Canvas regularly.

Course Description: The policy making and implementation process in the United States is complex and affects the daily lives of citizens in a profound way. This course will introduce that process and highlight the forces that have shaped some of the most salient policy battles of the last decade.

 

Learning Outcomes: 

By the end of the semester, students should be able to:

1. Identify and understand how various levels of government (local, state, and federal) play a role in the public policy process.
2. Understand the role of stakeholders and U.S., institutions in the public policy process.
3. Be able to identify various types of policy and how they are made and implemented.
4. Explain how a social or political movement has shaped systems of power within the country.
5. Identify one or more ways in which individuals and groups in the U.S. have unequal experiences in the policy process.
6. Articulate and present a case for or against a policy or policy proposal succinctly and thoughtfully.
7. Write persuasively.
8. Use evidence and data to support an argument.

 

How much time should you be spending on this class:  If this is a standard 3-credit semester length class, you are expected to spend an average of 6 or more hours outside of class per week on reading, studying, assignments, etc.  If this is a 6- or 8-week 3-credit class, you are expected to spend at least 12 hours outside of class per week on these activities.

 

O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Student Honor Code 

Introduction

The O’Neill School takes matters of honesty and integrity seriously.  We expect O’Neill students will, at all times, maintain academic integrity and civil and professional standards of conduct. 

Scope

O’Neill’s Student Honor Code applies to all courses and programs offered by O’Neill, and to all students who participate in O’Neill classes and programs, regardless of whether students are admitted to O’Neill. Students studying at O’Neill are expected to continue their commitment to ethical behavior in all their endeavors, including, but not limited to, coursework inside and outside of O’Neill, internships, community service, and overseas study. 

O’Neill’s Student Honor Code incorporates IU’s Code of Student Right, Responsibilities, & Conduct and extends to matters of civility and professional conduct, including, expectations about class attendance, punctuality, participation in class, and decorum in class and at other school functions.

Academic Conduct Requirements  

All students enrolled in O’Neill courses are subject to the academic misconduct provisions found in the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct.  

Academic misconduct is defined as any activity that tends to undermine the academic integrity of the institution.

The IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct lists and defines many types of academic misconduct, including cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, interference, violation of course rules, and facilitating academic dishonesty.   

Academic misconduct includes the use of any technology or assistance, including AI, that is not permitted by the instructor. 

Civility and Professional Conduct Requirements

O’Neill requires that all students treat others with mutual respect and behave professionally in the classroom and during all academic and non-academic activities.

These civility and professional conduct requirements foster an appropriate atmosphere inside and outside the classroom:

• Students must act in accordance with the O’Neill School mission and values. 
• Students must regularly attend and be fully prepared for class, including completing readings. 
• Students must not behave in a way that interrupts or distracts from teaching or learning.  For example, students must be punctual in their arrival to class and be present and attentive for the duration of the class. They must not sleep, do work for another class, or wander in and out of the classroom, pack up, or leave class early (unless an emergency exists).
• Students must abide by the course policy regarding use of electronic devices in the classroom, including a requirement that no electronics are allowed or that students are not permitted to use devices for non-class related purposes.
• Students must responsibly participate in class activities and during team meetings for course assignments. 
• Students must attend scheduled meetings with faculty or staff, events for which they have RSVPed, interviews with prospective employers, and student organization meetings.  
• Students must address faculty members, other students, and others appropriately and with respect, whether in person, in writing, or in electronic communications.
• Students must show tolerance and respect for others. 
• Students must practice respect and responsible stewardship of the physical resources of the school, refraining from destroying or defacing school property, integrating practices of sustainability, and contributing to a clean and orderly physical environment in all buildings, classrooms, offices, and meeting spaces.   
• Students must comply with the personal misconduct responsibilities within the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct.

Reporting 

Students must abide by the O’Neill Student Honor Code themselves and hold their peers to the same standards. Students should report suspected instances of academic, civility, or professional misconduct to the instructor of the course. Students should report suspected instances of personal misconduct to the IU Office of Student Conduct. 

Required Textbook

American Public Policy, Promise and Performance. 13th edition. (ISBN: 9781071947562) by B. Guy Peters & John Hoornbeek

• The textbook will be available to you through the Canvas eText tool